Philip Melanchton – Gentleman German Reformer=============================================The body of Philip Melanchthon (1497 – 1560) appropriately lies buried besidethat of Martin Luther in Wittenberg. He is considered the second man—thegentleman—of the German Reformation, faithfully working alongside Luther fornearly three decades. Orphaned at ten, Melanchthon lived with his grandmotheruntil he enrolled at the University of Heidelberg at age twelve to studyphilosophy, astronomy, and rhetoric. At sixteen he pursued graduate studies intheology at the University of Tübingen. A student of Erasmus, he was apublished author by the time Luther (fourteen years his senior) was postinghis Ninety-five Theses.

Melanchthon’s opposition to scholastic theology prompted him to questionCatholic dogma and traditions. At the same time he learned of Luther’sinsights. In 1518 he accepted a post at the University of Wittenberg, and thetwo scholars became life-long partners. Brilliant and popular, Melanchthondrew students much like Abelard did four centuries earlier. He was courted byother academic institutions, but with Luther and others playing cupid, hemarried Katharina Krapp, daughter of the Wittenberg mayor.

One of Melanchthon’s most important achievements was his contribution, at thebehest of Luther, to the Augsburg Confession. These twenty-eight articles,written in both Latin and German, were presented to Emperor Charles V, whosummoned a Diet at Augsburg in 1530 to settle the religious differences amongthe German princes and people. Melanchthon began with his usual conciliatorystyle, affirming twenty-one statements accepted by both Catholics andReformers. The remaining seven articles focused on matters disputed withCatholics, all supported with Scripture. The Augsburg Confession establishedthe German Reformation on justification by faith alone and serves today as afoundational document of Lutheran belief.

In the remaining years of his life, Melanchthon was embroiled in family andreligious difficulties. Although he was considered by many to be Luther’ssuccessor, opponents challenged his loyalty to the Reformation cause,insisting he was too eager to compromise with Catholics. Harshly criticized inhis own day, he has been admired in recent generations for his keen intellectand his careful scholarship as well as for his efforts to foster unity amongChristians. He was ever the patient and kind Reformer, generous to a fault.